Jump to content

Recommended Posts

  • Super User
Posted

So I am not the only reel fanatic on the board?  :teeth:

I'm pretty sure the 122+ page thread says you're not alone.  :respect-059:

Posted

For me it comes down to efficiency.  I don't really think that I feel much influence from "pros or magazines" when it comes to "needing" equipment.  For every person that is convinced they need something, there are 50 people that are convinced that everyone else feels that way who has a lot of rods and reels.  I choose to pick my battles. 
I own a boat I paid $10k dollars for.  It has paid for itself.  I could "afford" a payment for a $30k boat but I don't feel I need it or that it would drastically increase my efficiency.  I have more rods than I do reels.  I can use a reel on multiple rods and multiple situations and still feel that it is the best for what I'm doing.  I'm somewhere around 16-18 rods at this point.  Seems like a lot, but I didn't go out and buy 15 because I felt like I needed them all at once.  I started with about 6 I think, and they grew from there as I realized what I wanted and realized what I wanted to have out and tied on at the same time in certain situations.  I could make do with much less if I just fished say one or two lakes around here.  One weekend I may be fishing 3' visibility in grass, or flipping a 7'-10' mat needing to be prepared for a 7-9lb bite...  the next weekend I may be fishing 35-60 foot with 15' visibility in the afternoon just to get bit.  There's a lot of situations that you can come across.  Sure, I could make do with one or two rods absolutely.  For me that wouldn't be quite as fun...  I like using a lot of techniques and feeling like I'm doing things as well as possible!  That is the fun of bass fishing for me.  I appreciate where I live as I have the opportunity to do completely different things each time of year to catch fish and it's within say an hour and a half drive.  I enjoy going into a situation and feeling fully prepared.  Yes, I could definitely still catch a lot of fish on a frog with a 7' medium heavy rod with 15lb test mono on it...  But when I've put $75 in gas into my trip (on the light side) and taken the time out of my life to go fishing I want to increase my odds when a 7lber eats a frog in a matt or on a row next to tullies...  There are many situations I could go over in that way.  I want to get the bite, I want to be able to put the bait where I want it to go within about a 6" circle most of the time and I want to be able to do that from as far away as possible and as quietly as possible.  This comes down to my mechanics more than my equipment, but if I can learn better mechanics with specific equipment... I'm going to use it. 
As far as lures go...  It may seem like I have a lot, but once again, it has to do with how many situations I face through the year.  I fish 12 months a year, water clarity from 3 inches to 20 feet.  Absolutely no cover to be broken off in, to the thickest grass and wood I can make a 1.5oz weight go through.  This is the adversity that attracts me to fishing...  I keep colors as simple as possible with so many different baits.  Example:  White buzzbait, black buzzbait.  Plastic blade, and double blade metal.  White frog, black frog, green frog, all I need. Spooks I have 2 colors in two baits.  It is simple if you let it be.  I just have to have so many lures for different situations, it even makes it EASIER to carry less colors. 
If this doesn't make sense I can rant a lot more on the subject haha.

  • Super User
Posted

I'm a bit older, but pretty sure I can tie on most lures in less than 2 minutes.....provided the lure is handy. As BaitMonkey said, why waste time looking for that lure? I am not as organized as he is, and can guarantee I won't always find the desired lure in one minute. I tie on what lures I plan on using that day before leaving the house. That isn't to say that I never retie because I do. I try to keep it to a minimum.

My point is when I decide to change lures my mind is made up as what lure, where it is, & in under 2 minutes it's changed.

I keep a Texas Rig & Jig-n-Craw tied on 24/7/365; that leaves 3 setups to cover top water & mid-depth.

  • Super User
Posted

I look at it kind of like my golf clubs. Sometimes I hit a pitching wedge, sometimes I need to hit a 3 wood. I like to be covered for whatever I will encounter on the water.

  • Like 1
Posted

i agree with all of you because but some of the people have boats. for me i want to fish more than i do having to tie on different lures on 1 or 2 rods its a waste of time. even when i am in the back woods fish large ponds i take all my setups i have a rod quiver and it allows me to carry 10 rods plus with me whether i am on a boat or walking through the woods to get to backwaters

  • Like 1
  • Super User
Posted

A lot of great answers here,...I have, because I can, because I enjoy it, because it's ever changing, I would never impune someone's philosophy on less is more, simplicity is bliss on some fronts, I give very good, even exceptional gear, baits etc..away each year, that also create's joy for me and typically for those Recieving the "stuff" often times I resale a item, at a reduced cost, aka good deal for someone else, then re-invest some into new "stuff" I wouldn't disagree that I have more than I need, but I'm glad I have..

  • Super User
Posted

I have about 100 reels over half are abu round reels ,,,300lbs of tackle 8 tackle bags full ,i saltwater fish and fresh and only use 10 combos,Kayak and shore for me

Posted

Why are there so many tools in an ordinary toolbox?

I was about to say the exact same thing. Fishing has become so technical and refined, allowing companies to engineer and develop technique specific gear.

 

Same reason we don't use one golf club for the entire hole. Its most easily justified by tournament fisherman who usually respond with the whole efficiency speech, and in a lot of ways it makes sense. If you need to switch to a crank bait, why cut your line and re tie when you can just pick a specialized rod up off your boat deck and cast it?

Posted

The main rod locker on my boat had more spots than I had set ups. No sense in wasting the space, so I bought more rods to fill the boat.

And then more outfits...

And then a new boat with more storage...

  • Like 2
Posted

I have 2 different systems. I have my "high dollar" system that is comprised of a stack of *** Blacks, a nice crankbait rod, and a pile of $150-200 Lew's reels. This is for when I'm fishing hard And it's serious. There may be $1,000 in this gear not counting line, lure, and terminal tackle and it covers a lot of technique specific things That's a lot to me.

But my favorite system is my "fun fishing" stuff. It's a Cabela's 7' MH/MF Tourney Trail baitcasting and a 6'6" M/F Tourney Trail with a Fish Eagle spinning reel. Everything bought on clearance or deeply discounted. I have a small bag that has my favorite weight and colors with 1 spinnerbait, 2 squarebill, 1 popper, 1 frog, 2 lipless, 1 football jig, 1 swimming jig, a few weights and hooks, and 1 bag each of flukes, speed craws, fish doctors, trick worms, and chunk trailers. I think there's maybe $180 in the whole smash.

I end up doing better with the less expensive, 2 rod system. Every time. It drives me insane. Can't figure that one out.

Posted

I force myself to stop at 5 setups, do some calculating and you should be good having a rod to cover all styles that come into play.

As for tackle, it's just so shiney

I can layout 6 setups on my Pond Prowler where they are easily accesible, won't tangle and aren't in the way (2 on each side & 2 in the middle). Nonetheless, the night before when I am getting the gear setup, I always seem to compromise what will go on that sixth rod. If I could just comfortably fit a 7th setup...

  • Super User
Posted

Well fish many rods because I can.  Rods for everything.  Always have atleast 4 in my car when I pond hop, and well restricted to 7 as a co-angler although there will be 10 going with me(need some spares or possibly gear/technique change).  Bottom line I fish a bunch of different rods and continue to aquire more simply because I can.  Also find the more combos I have the less wear is put on just a couple outfits which tend to lead to longer gear life and some are simply for certain techniques that need a more refined tool to do the job.

  • Super User
Posted

Why not if you want to.

 

I'm both pro and con.  When I'm offshore I always have 3 rods, a trolling set up, drift set up and casting and jig set up. I do change lures, leaders, etc, don't find re tying to be any kind of issue.

On the jettie I usually have 2 with me, 1 for casting lures (retie again is no issue) and my barracuda combo.

When fishing off the beach or bass fishing I'm on foot.  I may have a couple of set ups with me, 1 stays in the car and I fish with the other.  I like to travel light taking just a few lures with me, I find no effort in tying on a different lure.

 

I'm there to relax and enjoy myself.  I put no pressure on myself to be more efficient with my time or to compete. Being retired I've got nothing but time.  I can go out for 30 minutes or be gone for 6 hours, just being out there is more rewarding than the fish itself.

  • Like 2
Posted

 

I'm there to relax and enjoy myself.  I put no pressure on myself to be more efficient with my time or to compete. Being retired I've got nothing but time.  I can go out for 30 minutes or be gone for 6 hours, just being out there is more rewarding than the fish itself.

Because of this, I respect everything else you said!

  • Super User
Posted

For me it's more having well-set-up combos than anything.  I have 3 dialed combos atm but am working towards 5.  Tackle...  Well tackle is it's own reason.  If they have to ask they'll never understand!  

Posted

Because im an addict thats why!

The only prescription is more tackle and more days on the water! Tournaments are like crack, tackle is like heroin! Lol

  • Super User
Posted

I have 2 different systems. I have my "high dollar" system that is comprised of a stack of *** Blacks, a nice crankbait rod, and a pile of $150-200 Lew's reels. This is for when I'm fishing hard And it's serious. There may be $1,000 in this gear not counting line, lure, and terminal tackle and it covers a lot of technique specific things That's a lot to me.

But my favorite system is my "fun fishing" stuff. It's a Cabela's 7' MH/MF Tourney Trail baitcasting and a 6'6" M/F Tourney Trail with a Fish Eagle spinning reel. Everything bought on clearance or deeply discounted. I have a small bag that has my favorite weight and colors with 1 spinnerbait, 2 squarebill, 1 popper, 1 frog, 2 lipless, 1 football jig, 1 swimming jig, a few weights and hooks, and 1 bag each of flukes, speed craws, fish doctors, trick worms, and chunk trailers. I think there's maybe $180 in the whole smash.

I end up doing better with the less expensive, 2 rod system. Every time. It drives me insane. Can't figure that one out.

I do something similar as you.  I have my mid to high dollar rods -> Cumara/Crucials, GLX, Cumulus for when I'm going all out and my better shimano reels.

 

But I find myself using my Fenwick ET Smallmouth/Aetos/Veritas/GL2 rods see more time on the water.  (Simply because they come with me bank fishing and most of the time on my kayak and friends boat)  I catch more fish with them, obviously because I was on the water with them more.  I am planning to keep a record on how much that difference is for 2015.  Still though, when I do take out my high end rods and reels...I enjoy them and admire them while I fish. 

Posted

My point is when I decide to change lures my mind is made up as what lure, where it is, & in under 2 minutes it's changed.

I keep a Texas Rig & Jig-n-Craw tied on 24/7/365; that leaves 3 setups to cover top water & mid-depth.

 

Preach it brother! The T-Rig and the Jig are my bread and butter.

Posted

To me it's just part of the fun. Give me a shimano citica 200E along with a lightning rod 7' MH and I'll be able to fish anything that I currently fish on a regular basis. In fact I only bring one rod and reel when I go shore fishing. Now when I'm on my boat it's 5-8 rods and reels with a tackle bag that weighs as much as a small child, and 4 Plano boxes for jigs, terminal, crank baits etc. I've spent enough money on tackle that I could have done 4 years of community college with the money. Its just part of the sport/hobby.

Posted

Really its as simple as someone having a passive interest in a hobby/ sport and someone who is an enthusiast. Then you divide that by disposable income. ...and there you go.

Its like that in every hobby/sport.

Posted

To fish you need tools. Tackle, boat, combos and so on. To do a job properly you need the right tool. Sure there are a one size fits all, but let's be honest we want specific.

Posted

When I was younger I use to dream of some day owning a big bass boat and running around the lakes casting for big bass. I grew up poor with out much of anything, back then I was lucky to have 1 combo from walmart.  Fast forward many, many years of hard work and busting my tail on the job, while having a wife who worked her tail off too, children grown or almost grown and now I can have my dreams. I have so many rods and reels because I can now afford them, I'm living the dream. Boat has two rod lockers full and the spare room has at least 25 to 30 rods & reels combo's, some that have not ever been fished but the way I look at it is when we die we can't take all that money with us. I have it now so I spend a lot of it. I'm not very good at saving, that's what my wife is for.

  • Like 1

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Unfortunately, your content contains terms that we do not allow. Please edit your content to remove the highlighted words below.
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.